Paid arsonist placed under preventive arrest

The Windsor Arch

A 26-year-old Hong Kong man who was paid to set two cars on fire has been placed under preventive arrest, according to a statement released by the Public Prosecutions Office.

On Sunday, the 26-year-
old Hong Kong man was transferred to the prosecution authority after deliberately setting two cars on fire, according to the Judiciary Police (PJ). He also wounded a security guard.

After a preliminary investigation, the man is suspected of having violated the laws against arson, assault, and the use of drugs.

“According to the law, the aforementioned crimes can be punished with a maximum of one to ten years of imprisonment or a penalty,” the statement reads.

“After the first judicial interrogation, and in response to the nature and seriousness of the case, especially considering the suspect’s illegal acts which threaten public safety and the fact that no other suspects have been intercepted in the case, and in order to prevent the suspect from escaping, the judge of the criminal court accepted the prosecutor’s suggestion and enforced compulsory measures to arrest the suspect,” the statement reads.

On Sunday, around midnight, the Hong Kong resident arrived at the Windsor Arch parking lots, where he left burning substances on top of two cars, setting them alight.

Prior to this attempt, the suspect had previously tried to set the cars on fire by dousing them in flammable liquid, but he was unsuccessful.

On Sunday, he broke one of the car’s windshields with an object, set the cars alight and left the scene.

The suspect was paid HKD20,000, in Hong Kong, to perform the crime in Macau.